Water & Plant Physics
This term describes water molecules sticking to other surfaces, like the walls of a plant's xylem.
What is Adhesion?
Of the three mineral soil particles, this one is the smallest and has the highest water-holding capacity.
What is Clay?
These three elements, represented by the numbers on a fertilizer bag, are the "Primary Macronutrients."
What are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium / N-P-K?
How many pounds of Phosphorus (P) are inside a 100-pound bag of 21-0-0 fertilizer?
This landscaping style focuses on selecting plants that require little to no supplemental water.
What is Xeriscaping?
This is the primary force that "pulls" water from the roots up to the leaves as water evaporates from the stomata.
What is Transpiration?
This is the name for a balanced soil mixture that contains roughly equal parts of sand, silt, and clay.
What is Loam?
This is the total number of chemical elements currently recognized as "essential" for plant growth.
What is 17?
This is the term for applying liquid fertilizer to a crop through an existing irrigation system.
What is Fertigation?
In a Xeriscape plan, this zone is located furthest from the house and receives no irrigation.
What is the Arid Zone?
Water molecules sticking to each other via hydrogen bonding is known by this term.
What is Cohesion?
This term describes the amount of water a soil can hold after the "excess" water has been drained away by gravity.
What is Field Capacity?
This type of specialized molecule "cages" a metal like Iron to keep it from getting locked in the soil, making it easier for plants to "eat."
What is chelator?
How many pounds of actual Nitrogen (N) are in a 50-pound bag of 10-20-10 fertilizer?
These are roots that grow in a circle inside a pot and can eventually "strangle" the plant if not pruned.
What are the Girdling Roots?
Water always moves from an area of High water potential to an area of Low water potential. What is the Greek symbol used to represent this potential?
What is (Psi)?
To be legally classified as an "Organic Soil," the medium must contain at least what percentage of organic matter?
What is 20%?
If a plant is deficient in a Mobile nutrient (like Nitrogen), which part of the plant will show yellowing first?
What are the older, bottom leaves?
What is the most common concern when using municipal "Biosolids" (processed sewage) as a fertilizer for food crops?
What are heavy metals or human pathogens like E. coli?
Which color of plastic mulch is used to "solarize" soil because it traps the most heat?
What is Clear Plastic?
If the air is at -100 MPa and the soil is at -1.1 MPa, in which direction will the water move?
What is from the soil into the air?
Why is adding a layer of gravel to the bottom of a pot actually bad for drainage?
What is creates a "Perched Water Table"?
Name 4 of the 8 "Micronutrients" required by plants.
What are Iron, Boron, Manganese, Chlorine, Zinc, Copper, Molybdenum, or Nickel?
If you have a 100-pound bag of 0-48-0, what is the only macronutrient you are actually providing to the plant?
What is Phosphorus?
If you use a mulch with a very high Carbon-to-Nitrogen (C:N) ratio, what might happen to the Nitrogen levels in your soil?
What is Nitrogen Tie-up?